Crown support carrier with straight lock

ABSTRACT

An improved multiple-article carrier of the crown-support variety comprising a bottom panel, side wall panels, elevation panels and crown-cover panels. The elevation panels are disposed along the inner edges of the article crowns and lie in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of the side wall panels. The crown-covers completely cover the article crowns thus affording increased protection.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,764,001 Graser Oct. 9, 1973 [5 CROWN-SUPPORT CARRIER WIT 3,257,066 6/1966 Williams 206/65 E X STRAIGHT LOCK 3,281,180 10/1966 Spery 294/872 1 3,310,334 3/1967 Murphy 294/8728 [75] In a J- r s M n La- 3,363,928 1/1968 Haufe et a]. 294/872 3,404,912 10/1968 Watts 294/872 [73] Ass'gnee' olmkrafl west 3,414,313 12/1968 Schwarz 294/872 [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.1 186,554 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Wayne Hoover Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 874,168, Nov. 5, 1969,

abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. ABSTRACT No. 826,850, May 22, 1969.

An improved multiple-article earner of the crown- [52] Cl 206/65 E support variety comprising a bottom panel, side wall [51] Int CIWU "5 71/00 panels, elevation panels and crown-cover panels. The [58] Field of g /65 E 65 elevation panels are disposed along the inner edges of 294/87 87 the article crowns and lie in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of the side wall panels. The [56] References Cited crown-covers completely cover the article crowns thus UNITED STATES PATENTS affording increased protection. 3,156,358 11/1964 Randrup 206/65 E 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED BET 9M5 SHEET 2 BF 3 'INVENVTOR Ear/J. Graser (ATTORNEY CROWN-SUPPORT CARRIER WITH STRAIGHT LOCK This application is a Continuation of Application Serial Number 874,168, filed November 5, 1969, now

BACKGROUND This invention relates to a multiple-article carrier. More particularly, this invention relates to a multiplearticle carrier which may be formed from a single blank of sheet material. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a multiple-article carrier of the crownsupport variety.

Crown-support carriers, of the type shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,156,358 which was granted Nov. 10, 1964 to B. F. Randrup are known inthe prior art. These prior art carriers have not, however, been widely accepted in the industry, principally, because they are not sufficiently rigid for use with the several article sizes presently on the market and because they do not afford maximum protection to the articles without the use of additional protective devices such as the net-like sleeves disclosed in the above citedpatent. In this regard, it should benoted that articles carried in the prior art crown-support type carriers are subjected to rotation in a lateral plane which causes contact at or near the bottoms thereof. Moreover, the prior art carriers have employed a single-ply handle which is inherently weak, as is readily apparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved multiple-article carrierof the crownsupport type. Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which can be prepared from a single blank of sheet material. Still another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article car rier which will lend itself to high-speed packaging operations. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier of the crown-support type having improved strength andrigidity. A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiplearticle carrier of the crown-supporttype having a handle section of increased strength. These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description hereinafter set forth and the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing, and other objects, are accomplished with a carrier which may be erected from a single sheet of blank material and comprising l) a bottom panel having means associated therewith for securing said carrier to the carried articles, and (2) crown-cover panels, which cover, completely, the article caps or closures. In erecting the carrier, it is most convenient, to first position the bottom panel below the crowns and then fold the crown-cover panels into position and secure the carrier in the erected condition. As will be apparent from the discussion hereinafter, the carrier also comprises side panels, means for securing said carrier in an erected condition and means for carrying said carrier in said erected condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plane view of a unitary blank cut and scored in a manner necessary to the formation of a carrier as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical package embracing the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial end view showing the initial steps required in the assembly of the package as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is also a partial end view showing the position of the top panels with one step remaining to complete the erection thereof as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the package shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a unitary sheet of blank material which is cut and scored so as to define the bounds of the various panels and other ele ments on a carrier within the scope of the present invention. The blank may be prepared from-paper, paperboard, polymeric materials, etc. The blank comprises a bottom panel, 1, which is pivotally connected to side wall panels, 2 and 3, respectively, along scored fold lines, 4 and 5. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the side panels are disposed at the lateral edges of the bottom panel. The side panels, 2 and 3, are also pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 6 and 7, to crown-cover panels, 8 and 9. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are in turn, pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 10 and 11, respectively, to elevation panels, 12 and 13. Elevation panel, 12, is pivotally connected to securing panel, 14, along longitudinally extending scored fold line, 15-15, and separated therefrom by cut lines, 16-16 and 17-17. On the other hand, elevation panel, 13, is pivotally connected to top panel, 18, along longitudinally extending scored fold line, 19-19, and separated therefrom along cut lines, 20-20.

The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises apertures 21-21 and 22-22, which apertures define the inner boundaries of a series of small, adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, respectively. The small, adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, are further defined, respectively, by starburst cuts, 25-25 and 26-26, and scored fold lines, 27-27 and 28-28, which, respectively, define the outer boundaries of panels, 23-23 and 24-24. For convenience, the combination of cut andscoredlines which define apertures, 21-21 and 22-22, and adjacent panels 23-23 and 24-24, will be referred to, herein, as starburst apertures. It will be appreciated, that although the starburst apertures, as illustrated, are surrounded by six adjacent panels, the term as defined is intended to include any number of panels which mayor may not be of uniform size. For example, the number of panels could easily be reduced to four or increased to twelve. Moreover, the term as herein defined is intended to include arrangements wherein the various panels are not adjacent in the blank layout.

The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG. 1, also comprises apertures, 29-29, which apertures in part, are defined by locking bars, 30-30. Moreover, the bottom panel, 1, is cut so as to define additional locking bars, 31-31 and 32-32. As can be seen in the Figure, look ing bars, 30-30 and 32-32, lie in a straight line and afford means for securing the crown-cover panel, 9, in position upon erection of a carrier. Similarly, locking bars, 31-31, lie in a straight line and afford means for securing crown-cover panel, 8, in position after a carrier is erected from said blank. It will be appreciated, that the number of locking bars provided and the position thereof is not critical, and hence, both may be varied to achieve the results sought to be obtained. Moroever, other means of securing said panels may be employed, and such means are contemplated by the present invention. The number, location and means illustrated are, however, preferred.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the terminal edge, 33-33, of securing panel, 14, is recessed so as to define aperture overlays, 29'29'. As is readily apparent, it is necessary to recess the terminal edge of the securing panel to avoid interference with the function of apertures, 29-29, when the carrier is erected. As has already been noted, the inner edge of securing panel, 14, is defined in part, by scored fold line, 15-15, and in part by cut lines, 16-16 and 17-17. As can be seen in FIG. 1, cut lines, 16-16, define the boundaries of locking tabs, 34 and 34', which locking tabs cooperate with locking bars, 31-31, to secure crown-cover panel, 8, in place when the carrier is erected, and cut lines, 17-17, define tabs, 35-35. It will be appreciated, that when securing tab, 14, is pivoted about longitudinal scored fold line, 15-15, tabs, 34, 34 and 35-35, will also rotate about said scored fold line thereby providing corresponding apertures in elevation panel, 12. As will be pointed out more fully, hereinafter, at least a portion of these apertures will cooperate with projections from top panel, 18, to secure the top panel in place when the carrier is erected and to prevent lateral movement of both elevation panels, 12 and 13, when said carrier is erected.

The top panel, 18, is cut and scored to define locking tabs, 36 and 36', which are hingedly connected thereto along scored fold lines, 37 and 37'. As has been previously noted, the inner edge of top panel, 18, is defined in part, by scored fold line, 19-19, and in part, by cut lines, 20-20. It should be noted, that cut lines, 20-20, define the boundaries of locking tabs, 38-38, which locking tabs cooperate with locking bars, 30-30 and 32-32, to secure the crown-cover panel, 9, in place when the carrier is erected. It should also be noted, that the outer edge, 39-39, of top panel, 18, is cut so as to define projection tabs, 40-40. As has been already noted, these projecting tabs cooperate to secure elevation panels, 12 and 13, against lateral movement when a carrier is erected from the blank shown in FIG. 1.

In order to better understand the present invention, reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a package embracing said invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom panel, 1, is positioned below the crowns, 41-41 and 42-42 (this position is clearly shown in FIG. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the bottom panel, 1, is positioned a distance sufficiently below said crowns so as to enable the inner edges of the adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, which are defined by starburst cuts, to engage under said crowns. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the side panels, 2 and 3, extend upwardly from the bottom panel, 1, and are substantially perpendicular thereto when the carrier is fully erected. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, extend inwardly from the tops of side panels, 2 and 3, respectively, and lie in a plane substantially parallel with that formed by the base panel, 1. The elevation panels, 12 and 13, extend downwardly from crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, respectively, and are secured in a position substantially parallel with side panels, 2 and 3. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, top panel, 18, extends from the bottom of elevation panel, 13, across the entire handle section of the carrier such that the projections, 40-40, extend through apertures in elevation panel, 12. With the top panel, thus positioned, tabs, 36 (and 36 not shown) may be rotated about scored lines, 37 and 37 through recesses 29'29 (not shown) and apertures 29-29. It will be appreciated, that tabs 36 and 36' will be subject to further rotation when fingers are inserted through apertures 29-29 for lifting of the carrier and thereby afford added rigidity to the handle section. These tabs could, however, be eliminated without sacrificing any appreciable strength. Although not shown, it should be noted, at this point that the width of top panel, 18; that is, the length thereof from the bottom of elevation panel, 13, to the terminal end of said panel, will be sufficient so as to provide a force which has a tendency to move the bottom of elevation panel, 13, toward side wall panel, 3, and the bottom of elevation panel, 12, toward side wall panel, 2. As will be pointed out more fully, hereinafter, this force is counteracted by a force exerted by locking bars, 30-30, 32-32 and 31-31, against locking tabs, 20-20 and 34 and 34, respectively. It will be appreciated, that these forces cooperate to prevent lateral motion of the elevation panels, 12 and 13, and thereby afford lateral rigidity to the packa e.

To further illustrate the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 3-5, which show partial end views of a package prepared with the carrier of the present invention at various stages of erection of the article carrier. FIG. 3 shows the position of bottom panel, 1, after said panel has been forced over the crownP, 41 and 42, with said crowns protruding through apertures, 21 and 22 (not shown).As can be seen in the Figure, the adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, pivot about scored lines, 27-27 and 28-28 (not shown) and extend upwardly from bottom panel, 1, with their inner edges locking beneath the respective crowns. As can also be seen, these panels tend to separate along the starburst cuts when the apertures, 21 and 22, are expanded by forcing the said crowns through said apertures. It will be appreciated that the extent of separation will be dependent uponthe size of the article which is packaged. It will also be appreciated tha the strength of the lock created by the panels, 23-23 and 24-24, will be dependent upon the force exerted by said panels in opposition to the aforementioned separation. As will be apparent, this force will be dependent upon the size of the apertures, 21-21 and 22-22, the size of the article to be packaged, and the strength of the material used in preparing the blank. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, when the bottom panel, 1, is in position, the side panels, 2 and 3, can be pivoted about longitudinally extending fold lines, 4 5, and extended upwardly from said bottom panel. At the same time, crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, may be rotated about scored fold lines, 6 and 7, and extended inwardly to cover crowns, 41-41 and 42-42. Prior to bringing crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, into their erected position, it is most convenient to rotate elevation panels, 12 and 13, about scored fold lines, 10 and 11, respectively, and to rotate securing panel, 14, and top panel, 18, about scored fold lines, 15-15 and 19-19. So that tabs, 34 and 34 and 38-38 will be in a position to en gage locking bars, 31-31 and 30-30 and 32-32, respectively, it is necessary that securing panel, 14, and top panel, 18, extend upwardly when crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are rotated to a position substantially parallel with bottom panel, 1.

With securing panel, 14, and top panel, 18, thus positioned, it is possible to engage locking tabs, 34 (and 34' not shown), with locking bars, 31-31, and locking tabs, 38-38, with locking bars, 30-30 and 32-32 (not shown) andthen rotate securing panel, 14, into a position substantially parallel to and adjacent with bottom panel, 1, as illustrated in FIG. 4. As a final step in the erection of said carrier, top panel, 18, is then rotated about scored fold line, 19-19, to a position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, where projection tabs, 40-40, penetrate apertures provided therefor in elevation panel, 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the heights of side wall panels, 2 and 3, and elevation panels, 12 and 13, are adjusted such that crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, will lie in a plane substantially paraallel with bottom panel, 1, and adjacent with the tops of crowns, 41-41 and 42-42. As can also be seen in FIG. 5, the width of top panel, 18, is adjusted such that elevation panels, 12 and 13, extend through planes substantially perpendicular to bottom panel, 1, and are secured therein by the forces exerted near the bottoms thereof by top panel, 18, and locking bars, 30-30, 31-31 and 32-32.

In general, the multiple-article carrier of the present invention may be used to package any number of articles. It will be appreciated, however, that for practical reasons, the carrier of the present invention will be most suited for the packaging of from two to bout twelve articles. Moreover, it should be noted that although the carrier of the present invention has been illustrated by reference to a carrier designed for packaging six articles in a two by three arrangement, the carrier of the present invention could, through only slight modification, be made suitable for use with a single row of articles or with more than two rows of articles. For example, it is contemplated that the carrier, as illustrated, could be easily modified to facilitate packaging of 12 articles in a four by three arrangement.

Further, the carrier of the present invention may be used to package any article having a crown or other projection which extends outwardly from the article a sufficient distance to enable the panels to be secured in the manner herein described. In this regard, it should be noted that the carrier of the present invention could be used to package any articles have a protrusion in the upper portion thereof, eg., a neck flange, which extends outwardly from said article a sufficient distance to permit the various panels to be locked in a manner herein described. Moreover, it should be noted that the bottom panel of the carrier of the present invention could be positioned prior to placing the crown on said bottles. Further, it should be noted that substantially any melthod, known in the prior art, could be used to lock the carrier in an erected position. In this ragrd, it should be noted that the method of locking, as herein described and illustrated, is, however, particularly preferred.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blank, as shown in FIG. 1, is cut from paperboard. The carrier is used to package six or eight containers such as those described n U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,826, which issued to Richard A. Heaton on Mar. 12, 1966, which containers comprise an upper portion of glass and a lower portion of a less frangible material, such as low or medium molecular weight polyethylene. Packaging in a two by three or two by four arrangement is preferred and packaging in a two by three arrangement is particularly preferred. Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier will comprise locking tabs such as those illustrated in FIGS. l-4 and designated, 34, 34' and 38-38. In this regard, it should be noted that it is particularly advantageous and hence particularly preferred that a locking tab be positioned at or near the longitudinal ends of each elevation panel.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated by reference to particular embodiments, it will be readily apparent that the present invention lends itself to various modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made solely to the appended claims to deter mine the scope of the invention.

Having thus described and illustrated the present invention, what is claimed is:

l. A package comprising a multiplearticle carrier in combination with two or more articles, which articles each have a crown or similar projection extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof, said carrier comprising: a bottom panel, which bottom panel is cut so as to comprise a plurality of locking bars and at least two apertures, which apertures are disposed in the handle section thereof for lifting said package, said bottom panel being disposed below the crown or similar projection of said articles and secured. thereto by suitable means; a side panel pivotally connected cirectly to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom; a crown-cover panel pivotally connected to each of the side wall panels and extending inwardly from the tops thereof; an elevation panel pivotally connected to each of the crown-cover panels and extending downwardly therefrom; and a top panel, said top panel being pivotally connected along the inner edge thereof to one of the elevation panels and extending across the entire handle section of said bottom panel, said handle section of said bottom panel being that portion thereof disposed between the elevation panels of said carrier, and said top panel being secured, at least partially, with locking tabs disposed along the inner edge thereof, which tabs engage at least a portion of the plurality of locking bars provided in saidbottom panel; and projection tabs disposed along the free edge of said top panel, which projection tabs extend through apertures provided in one of said elevation panels so as to maintain said carrier in an erected position.

1 P -w 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION at NO- 3,754,001 Dated October 9 1973 Inventor) Earl J. Graser It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

f Column 1, line 67, change "plane" to plan l 1 Column 4, line 37, change "crownP, to O WIIS, Column 4, line 48, change "tha" to --that-.

Column 5 4, line 58,. between "4 5" insert --and Column 5, line: '11, change "andthen" to -'--and thent Column 5, line 22, change "paraa-llel" to parallel--. Column 5, line 54, change "bout" to --about---. 5 Column 5, line 51, change "have a" to --having a--. Column 5, line- 59, change "melthod' to --method-.

Column 5, line 60, change "ragrd" to --'-regard- Column 6 line 7, change "described n" to -described in---:.

Column 6 line I 17, change "l--4Y to 1-5 Column 6, line 41, change -'cirectly" to "directly- Signed and sealed this 21st day of May 19m.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDi/JARD M.FLETCHER, JR. G I 'IAZZSIEALL DANN Attesting ,Officer- Commissioner of Patents 

1. A package comprising a multiple-article carrier in combination with two or more articles, which articles each have a crown or similar projection extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof, said carrier comprising: a bottom panel, which bottom panel is cut so as to comprise a plurality of locking bars and at least two apertures, which apertures are disposed in the handle section thereof for lifting said package, said bottom panel being disposed below the crown or similar projection of said articles and secured thereto by suitable means; a side panel pivotally connected directly to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom; a crown-cover panel pivotally connected to each of the side wall panels and extending inwardly from the tops thereof; an elevation panel pivotally connected to each of the crown-cover panels and extending downwardly therefrom; and a top panel, said top panel being pivotally connected along the inner edge thereof to one of the elevation panels and extending across the entire handle section of said bottom panel, said handle section of said bottom panel being that portion thereof disposed between the elevation panels of said carrier, and said top panel being secured, at least partially, with locking tabs disposed along the inner edge thereof, which tabs engage at least a portion of the plurality of locking bars provided in said bottom panel; and projection tabs disposed along the free edge of said top panel, which projection tabs extend through apertures provided in one of said elevation panels so as to maintain said carrier in an erected position. 